Smitty laughs, turning to face us like there aren’t guns pointed right at him.
“I’m running a business here. And you and your cock are fucking it all up.”
Ringo yells something else, but all I can hear is the blood rushing through my veins and my thunderous heart.
Smitty? He was the one feeding my mum information? He was the one that gave up the location of the house we were at by the sea?
“How?” I snap, storming forward and ignoring Spud’s gun pointed directly at my head, bringing it closer. Inches closer. “How did you know where we were in South Australia? Only four people knew the exact location.”
Smitty smirks, pressing his hands together in front of him like he’s going to start praying.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He laughs like a maniac. “It’s amazing the information one will give up while being raped with a mop.”
I gape at him, tears pricking the backs of my eyes, while shouts fill the room as others become enraged by his answer.
“Tell me this is just one of your stunts, Nate.” I step closer again, and the barrel of Spud’s gun is now only an inch from my forehead. “I need you to tell me this is another dramatic hoax before I…”
He scoffs. “Before you what?Cry?” He laughs again, pouting, and Ringo’s temper snaps.
Lunging for Nate, Ringo releases an animalistic growl, but JD and Murf are right there, holding him back, only making Smitty laugh harder.
“No, sweet Charity, this time, I’m not fucking around. Don’t take it personally. It’s justbusiness.”
My lip wobbles, and I hate that he sees it, his lips spreading wider like the sight pleases him, so I fight off the tears that want to fall and suck in a steadying breath as I nod.
“Okay. This is real. You really have been playing us. Lying to the club. Working with predators,” I scoff, flickers of memory coming at me. “It all makes sense now. Insisting on helping us, feeding me that bullshit line about being willing to die for your men. What a load of crap.”
He shrugs one shoulder. “Like I said. It’s just business.”
“Right. Just business. I get it now. I finally understand howbusinessis done under your rule.” A calmness I wasn’t expecting washes over me, and I think about my little girl, hoping she’s on her way to safety, glad she isn’t anywhere near this. Near me and what I have to become to survive in this world.
“Exactly.” Smitty grins, pleased that we’re on the same page, and as he turns his grin to the rest of the room, I quickly assess everyone around us too.
Ringo’s hand is shaking, his gun aimed right at Smitty, and even though JD and Murf are holding him back, their guns are still aimed. One at Spud, and one at Tups.
Some club brothers are confused, their frowns matching the drop in the angle of their guns, while others have chosen their sides, pointed at Smitty, their own President, and some at my husband.
My mother is clinging to my grandfather’s arm, while Maggie is huddled on his lap like the terrified little girl she is. But Banes looks calm. As do Panda and Moore.
I don’t know how long Smitty has been working with them and against me, but I know it’s been long enough for him to tell themabout Bobbi being alive, and honestly, that’s all the betrayal I need to learn to know we arenevercoming back from this.
So this is it. I wonderwhowill walk out alive.
“So you do business by double crossing your club,” I state, subtly reaching to the back of my pants, my hand wrapping around the gun. “What an admirable President you are.”
Smitty beams, clearly not picking up on my sarcasm, and in the time it takes to suck in a single breath, I flick my gaze to Spud and the barrel he has aimed at me, bring my gun up, point it at him, and pull the trigger.
29
The crack of the gun is deafening, trigger fingers all around the room nearly letting loose as Spud’s pained cry rips through the air. His gun clatters to the floor, his knees crashing down right after, and for a long moment, it’s like the whole fucking room is holding its breath as everyone turns their focus to the source of the shot.
My wife.
Fuck. Her caramel eyes are wild as she stands there with her arms outstretched, gun aimed straight ahead, the dark smoky effect around her eyes making her look fucking lethal. Her leather jacket adds to how fucking tough she looks right now, but the most terrifying part of her is those fucking beautifully savage eyes.
They are laser focused right now, zeroed in on her new target.
My President.
